The project was led by Eve Galimany, researcher at ICM-CSIC and ICATMAR, with the support of ICATMAR’s technical staff and specialists in fish, crustaceans, geographic information systems and marine ecology.
The “Sea of Signs” project, promoted by the Institut Català de Recerca per a la Governança del Mar (ICATMAR / ICM-CSIC) and funded by Barcelona City Council, has culminated in the creation of the first marine science glossary in Catalan Sign Language (LSC), following nine months of collaborative work involving the scientific community, LSC professionals and the Deaf community.
The main aim of the initiative was to expand and review marine-related vocabulary in LSC, helping to reduce barriers to knowledge and promote a more inclusive approach to science. The project has now resulted in the creation of the first Catalan marine science glossary in LSC, featuring 95 signs that have been reviewed or specifically developed for the fields of marine biology, fisheries and oceanography.
A co-creation initiative between science and the deaf community
The project, which began last September, was developed in collaboration with Binomils, a Catalan company specialising in hearing accessibility and Catalan Sign Language. Its mission is to facilitate communication between Deaf and hearing people and promote equal access to information, culture and knowledge. The initiative also received support from the Barcelona Aquarium, Centre de la Platja, Port Vell Barcelona, Dortoka and the Associació Dones de la Mar.
The review and creation of signs were carried out through a series of working sessions involving researchers from ICM-CSIC and ICATMAR, LSC linguists and members of the Deaf community. This process ensured that each sign was both linguistically and scientifically accurate. Concepts addressed included terms such as sardine, coral, marine litter, marine protected area, plankton, ecosystem, salinity and Mediterranean, among others.
“Sign creation arises naturally within the signing community, but it is true that initiatives of this kind are becoming increasingly common in specialised fields such as marine biology and fisheries,” explain the experts at Binomils.
This effort to expand and systematise scientific vocabulary in sign language is part of an international trend that has, for years, promoted the development of specialised glossaries to improve the Deaf community’s access to scientific and technical knowledge. Similar initiatives have been undertaken in the United Kingdom, the United States and several European countries, particularly in STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), with the aim of creating specialised terminology and accessible educational resources.
Within this context, “Sea of Signs” is a pioneering initiative in the fields of marine science and fisheries, both in Catalonia and across Spain, by creating a specialised glossary covering marine biology, oceanography and fisheries in Catalan Sign Language. One example of this international trend is the European project STEMSiL, which promotes visual glossaries of scientific terminology in several European sign languages.
Bringing ocean science closer to everyone
Beyond the creation of the glossary, “Sea of Signs” has been an outreach, training and inclusion project that has connected marine research with the Deaf community and other key sectors of society. Over the course of nine months, a variety of activities were organised for Deaf people, researchers, education professionals and the general public, aiming to promote Catalan Sign Language, bring scientific knowledge to new audiences and foster a more accessible and participatory scientific culture.
Overall, the activities involved more than 250 participants, making “Sea of Signs” a pioneering initiative that demonstrates how science can become a tool for social transformation and inclusion. The project also launched innovative actions, such as the first ICM-CSIC open days with Catalan Sign Language interpretation, helping to normalise the presence of the Deaf community in scientific environments.
Finally, the impact and uniqueness of “Sea of Signs” have extended beyond the local sphere. The project has been selected for presentation at CommOCEAN 2026, one of the leading international conferences on marine science communication and outreach, which will take place from 1 to 3 September in Bergen, Norway.